Longtime Owners To Sell Harvard Book Store

Just last month, the Harvard Book Store celebrated its 75th anniversary. But the Kramer family, who founded the store and have owned it ever since, won’t be around for its centennial.

While the rise of online retailers and rising real-estate prices have forced many booksellers out of the Square, the Harvard Book Store has maintained a strong presence in this ever-changing neighborhood, thanks in no small part to the Kramer family.

Frank Kramer, who has operated the book store for the last 46 years, said what matters most is that the new owner has an interest in literature and the local community.

“I’m looking for a buyer who loves books and is really committed to all the things we’ve done,” Kramer said. “The book business is a wonderful business and presents many opportunities to be involved in the literary community.”

Kramer said that ideally, the buyer would come from the Harvard community—not from a large chain corporation—to preserve the store’s individuality.

“It is very unlikely that the book store could be sold to large corporation,” he said. “I’d think that our book store doesn’t fit into the cookie cutter mold very well.”

Kramer said that he hopes that the sale will enable him to focus on Cambridge Local First, an organization he co-founded that aims to support local businesses in the area.

“I feel like I’ve been contributing to the culture in the book business and moving onto local culture and sustainability is the next step,” he said.

Founded by Kramer’s father Mark, Harvard Book Store at first sold used books on JFK Street and then changed both location and merchandise.  

Now the book store just across from Harvard Yard sells intellectual books that could be assigned for courses but are not textbooks as well as a variety of other books and merchandise. The store still sells used books from the basement.

Harvard Book Store, like many independent booksellers, competes with major operations and online retailers by inspiring customer loyalty through a good location, friendly in-store environment and hosting author events.  

In the last year the Harvard Book Store has brought big names such as Stephen King, Madeleine Albright, and Tom Brokaw to Harvard Square for talks and book-signings.

Though he is planning on selling, Kramer said that he hopes he can remain involved in the life of the store in some capacity.

“If I could remain a part of it in some way I would like to very much—that would be up to a new owner,” he said.

—Staff writer Betsy L. Mead can be reached at emead@fas.harvard.edu.